Two Kansas City Icons: Liberty Memorial, Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts

[EdMc]

Liberty Memorial

Dedicated in 1921.
Recognized by Congress as the "National World War I Museum and Memorial"
TripAdvisor's #1 attraction in Kansas City
No. 5 Ranked Museum in the U.S. - Yelp - theworldwar.org

You've heard of Emmy, Tony, Oscar and Grammy? This location receives my Gus Award, Great Urban Setting. A special environment, it makes me want to stay awhile.

Celebrating wedding groups and graduation groups, as well as tourists and locals, marvel at the view.

Two Assyrian Sphinxes guard the south entrance of the Liberty Memorial. “Memory” faces east toward the battlefields of France, shielding its eyes from the horrors of war. “Future” faces west, shielding its eyes from an unknown future.

• theworldwar.org

Each standing 40-feet tall, four Guardian Spirits watch over the Memorial from the top of the Tower. As protectors of peace, each guardian holds a sword and is named for the virtue it represents: Honor, Courage, Patriotism and Sacrifice.

• theworldwar.org

To get to the top of the 217 foot tall Liberty Memorial Tower (built in 1926) requires riding an elevator and then climbing 45 steps.

• theworldwar.org

The Great Frieze measures 148 feet by 18 feet and represents the progression of mankind from war to peace.

• theworldwar.org

Red poppies have symbolized the First World War since the poem “In Flanders fields the poppies blow …” was published in 1918. - Kansas City Star

Beautiful smiles ahead

 

[HenryAlan]

These steps are really cool. Thanks for posting all the pics, I had no idea KC was in any way an interesting place.

 

[EdMc]

Walking up those steps will make you huff and puff if you’re not young. As soon as I noticed that couple seemingly contemplate whether they should make the attempt, I saw some humor in that and zoomed in from a few blocks away and snapped the picture hurriedly before they dropped their pose.

Liberty Memorial, Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts and Union Station would be star attractions in any city. I never tire of visiting them because they are just places you want to experience for the architecture, the popularity buzz and one’s awareness of being in a special environment. It’s a nice way to live a moment in time. Urbanism at its best.

The walk from downtown to these attractions is pleasant, traffic is not heavy, you pass through an arts district, lots of brick buildings conveying a sense of yesterday and the charming streetcar comes and goes.